Lasting machine

ABSTRACT

A lasting machine for pulling the leather of the upper and turning the rim of the upper over the insole of a shoe disposed on a firmly clamped last, in which a rotating worm extends transversely of the longitudinal direction of the last and rests on the rim of the upper, to draw the latter inwardly and urge it onto the adhesive coated insole. Hydraulic piston and cylinders move the worm longitudinally and transversely of the longitudinal direction of the last substantially parallel to the surface of the sole of the last, and a sensor is guided for movement with the worm and is adapted to sense the edge of the last and actuates a control valve for controlling the application of hydraulic fluid to the piston and cylinder arrangement, to control the pressurization of the latter and, thereby, movement of the worm transversely of the last, as the sensor moves along the edge of the last.

United States Patent 1191 Henkel et al.

[ 1 LAS'IIING MACHINE [73] Assignee: Messrs. E. G. HenkelMaschinenfabriken, Neu-Isenburg,

Germany 22 Filed: June 28,1973

21 Appl. No.: 374,661

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or FirmMam &Jangarathis [57] ABSTRACT A lasting machine for pulling the leather ofthe upper and turning the rim of the upper over the insole of a shoedisposed on a firmly clamped last, in which a totating worm extendstransversely of the longitudinal direction of the last and rests on therim of the upper, to draw the latter inwardly and urge it onto theadhesive coated insole. Hydraulic piston and cylinders [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data move the worm longitudinally and transverselyof the July 6, 1972 Germany 2233331 longitudinal direction of the lastSubstantially Parallel to the surface of the sole of the last, and asensor is 52 us. c1. was guided for movement with the worm and isadapted to 51 1m. (:1 A43d 21/00 Sense the edge of the last and eewatesa eentrel valve [58] Field of Search 12/1 B, 8.3, 34, 34.5 forControlling the application of hydraulic fluid to the piston andcylinder arrangement, to control the pres- 5 References Cited surizationof thelatter and, thereby, movement of the UNITED STATES PATENTS wormtransversely of the last, as the sensor moves along the edge of thelast. 2,970,330 2/1961 Kamborlan l2/8.3 7 3,667,077 6/1972 Steane l2/8.315 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 55 52 as s1 :17 53 RATENTEBAPR 15 19M SHEUh UF 7 (Illlll II I II n -4- L LASTING MACHINE The invention relates toa machine for pulling the leather of the upper onto and turning the rimof the upper over the insole of a shoe disposed on a firmly clampedlast. One type of such machine has a rotating worm extendingsubstantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the last andresting on the rim of the upper, drawing the latter inwardly and urgingit onto the insole provided with an adhesive, and has a sensing devicewhich directs the worm longitudinally of the last in conformity with thecontour of the last.

Lasting machines wherein a rotating worm is adapted to be pressed ontothe sole surface of the last such that the worm, by virtue of itsrotation; draws the upstanding rim of the upper toward the centre of thelast, in so doing presses the rim of the upper onto the adhesive coatedinsole and thereby sticks it fast, have been known for some time (cf,German Patent Specification No. 868,713). However, in these oldermachines the last and the upper located thereon are manually guidedthrough the machine by an operator, so that adapting the position of theworm to the base and the edge of the last is carried out by the operatorhimself. ln order to be able to automate the operating steps occurringin the manufacture of shoes it has therefore already been proposed forthe last provided with the upper to be firmly clamped in a machine.This, however, makes it necessary precisely to guide the tools intendedfor performing the operating steps depending on the configuration of thelast, e.g. depending on the contour and arch of the last. For thispurpose sensing devices have been developed wherein a sensor senses amodel precisely disposed relative to the last and guides the toolcorrespondingly (US. Pat. No. 3,233,438, German OffenlegungsschriftenNos. 1,685,488 and 1,812,461). The use of models to be sensed againrenders questionable any extensive automation of the process of shoemanufacture, because, upon every change-over from left to right shoes orvice versa and upon every change of size or model of shoe, it becomesnecessary to replace the model and precisely align it with the last.Furthermore, it frequently happens in shoe manufacture that at the endof a production run pairs of shoes of a certain size or model are foundto be rejects and therefore suitable new pairs have to go through thelasting procedure where everything had already been adjusted to a newsize or model or both. In such cases too it then always becomesnecessary again to replace the model in order to relast the rejectedpairs of shoes. The use of the model results in an operator alwayshaving to be present to arrange for the correct replacement.

Moreover, the model which must, after all, be present for each size andeach model requires costly storage arrangements which are reflected inincreasing the total production costs.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lasting machinefor pulling the leather of the upper and turning the rim of the upperover the insole of a shoe, such machine comprising means for firmlyclamping a last, so that the sole surface of the last extends in alongitudinal direction, a rotatable worm, means for mounting said worm,so that it extends transversely of the longitudinal direction of a lastheld by said clamping means, and adapted to rest on the rim of a shoeupper positioned on said last and draw the rim inwardly of said last,means for moving said worm longitudinally of said last, a fluid actuatedpiston and cylinder arrangement connected to move said worm transverselyof the longitudinl direction of said last, substantially parallel tosaid sole surface, a sensor guided for movement with said worm andadapted to sense the edge of the last; and a control valve forcontrolling the application of fluid under pressure to said piston andcylinder arrangement, said sensor being operatively associated with saidcontrol valve to control the pressurisation of the piston and cylinderarrangement and thereby movement of said worm, as the sensor moves alongthe edge of said last. With such a machine it is possible so greatly toautomate the entire lasting process that a single operator at most isrequired for the lasting of tip, joint and heel, otherwise the lastingprocess is entirely automat'able.

The piston and cylinder arrangement for adjusting the worm has twofunctions: on the one hand it ensures the necessary reaction force so asto support the reaction pressure of the worm, which may be considerable,while the worm pulls the edge of the upper over the insole. On the otherhand the piston and cylinder arrangement also guides the worm so that itfollows the contour of the last. Both functions are effected by thesensor-directed control valve which so regulates the supply of fluid tothe two piston surfaces of the advantageously used double acting pistonthat the piston is advanced or retracted according to the variations inthe configuration of the last.

A separate sensing of the arch of the last for the purpose of guidingthe worm also perpendicularly of the base of the last is unnecessarysince for this purpose there is only required a device for keepingthe-worm adjustable perpendicularly of the sole surface of the last andto urge it onto the edge of the upper and base of the last with apredetermined force, for example by means of a hydraulic cylinder whichis always loaded at constant pressure.

Suitably the piston within the cylinder adjusting the worm parallel tothe base and transversely of the longitudinal direction of the last isadapted to be acted upon from either side and the supply of pressuremedium is so controlled that the presure medium supply to one side ofthe piston which effects the adjustment is interrupted by the controlvalve when the sensor touches the edge of the last. The adjustmentmovement is thereby arrested and an oppositely directed force acts onthe piston and seeks to remove the piston and thus also the worm awayfrom the last. But when a movement in the opposite sense is initiatedthen the control valve is again reversed and the piston isinstantaneously acted upon by fluid toward the last. By virtue of theinertia of the displaced components in the valve and of the cylinder andby virtue of the throttling and friction effects on the moved componentsof the valve and the cylinder and those components through which thepressure medium flows a stable condition will, however be establishedwhich exactly corresponds to a follow-up control. I

The control valve is advantageously a spool valve, the spool of which isdirectly actuated by the sensor.

The lasting of the arch must be performed in such manner that in thefinished shoe the upper forms a socalled close fit with the foot in thearch region, i.e. that it smoothly and neatly adheres to the foot. Whenlasting the arch this requires special care on the part of the operatorso as to avoid too much or too little force being applied to the edge ofthe upper being lasted on the insole. Since such supervision must beabsent when the arch is being lasted automatically provision must bemade by a suitable device for the worm to grasp and turn over the rim ofthe upper in the arch region in such manner as is necessary to obtainthe close fit in the finished shoe. In order to achieve this there areprovided in the arch region, according to a further development of theinvention, orienting elements, e.g. temporarily acting pincers, whichconstrain the edge of theupper toward the inside until it has beengripped by the worm. It is thus ensured that the upper leather is incontact with the edge of the last or the rim of the insole from the verybeginning and therefore cannot form bubbles ahead of the worm.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, thefollowing description is given, merely by way of example, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view, in partial vertical section, of the worm andsensor mounting at one side of the last, including the elements foractuating the worm and the sensor, forming part of one embodiment ofmachine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of that part of the mahine which is illustrated inFIG. 1, the worm mounting and the sensor mounting being shown separatelyfor greater clar- FIG. 3 is a side view of the last abutment viewed inthe direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4a, and 4b are respectively a side view in the direction of arrowA of FIG. 1 of a device for constraining the rim of the upper and afront view of this device;

FIG. 5 is a front view in partial section of a last support and a devicefor longitudinally orienting the last; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a portion of the hydraulic circuit forcontrolling the machine.

FIG. I shows essentially that part of the machine which serves formounting and actuating the sensor and the worm. In essence this partcomprises a base frame I only partially shown, a displacement mountinggenerally designated by the reference numeral 2, a worm mountinggenerally designated by the numeral 3 and including a drive, and asensor mounting generally designated by the numeral 5.

At both lateral surfaces of the box-shaped base frame 1 there isprovided a longitudinal guideway 11 extending perpendicularly of theplane of the drawing of FIG. 1 in which guideways a forwardly projectingsupport arm 12 is displaceably guide. At the free end of the support arm12 two columns 13 (oly one of which is visible in FIG. 1) positioned onebehind the other are displaceably guided in guide bushings 14. To eachfree end of the support arms 12 there is further secured a verticallypositioned piston and cylinder arrangement 15 the piston rod 16 of whichis adapted to be driven upwardly and connected to the displacementmounting 2. A prestressed spring 17 surrounding the piston rod 16 andcarrying the weight'of the displacement mounting 2 and of the mountings3 and 5- is supported between the upper end of the piston and cylinderarrangement 15 and the underside of the displacement mounting 2.

That end of the support arms 12 which is guided in the longitudinalguideway 11 is in each case connected to one end of'a crosshead 18 whichis adapted to be advanced and retracted by means of a hydraulic cylinder(not shown) disposed in the base frame 1. Thus the two support arms 12and with them the mountings 2, 3 and 5 can be jointly shiftedperpendicularly of the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1.

A guide bed 21 is secured to the upper extremities of the columns 13 anda hydraulic cylinder 23 is disposed at the righthand (in the Figure) endof the guide bed by means of an angle member 22. The piston rod 24 ofthe hydraulic cylinder 23 is connected to a sliding carriage 25displaceable in a rectangular or dovetail groove which extends parallelto the plane of FIG. 1 for example. The piston of the hydraulic cylinder23 is adapted to be acted upon, in a manner yet to be explained ingreater detail; from either side by virtue of connections 26 and 27, sothat the sliding carriage 25 can be moved to the left or to the right.

The sliding carriage 25 carries a mounting plate 28 to which the wormmounting 3 is attached. The latter comprises essentially anapproximately horizontally positioned cylindrical housing 31 having ateither end cavities 32 and 33 for receiving roller bearings 34 andcarrying a hydraulic motor 35. The drive shaft of the hydraulic motor 35acts directly on the worm shaft 36 journalled in the roller bearings 34and drives, via the worm shaft 36, a worm roll 37 mounted at the leadingend of the drive shaft, so as to be pivotable in any direction. The wormroll 37 has a single or multiple helical thread the outer edges of whichare slightly rounded. At its end proximate the mounting the worm roll 37has an articulation ball 38 borne in a socket 39 of a capnut-like sleeve40 threaded onto the worm shaft 36. The ball 38 has at its free end aplanar thrust surface 41 positioned perpendicular to the axis of theworm, against which surface 41 the likewise planar face of an offsetthrust pin 42 is urged by a set of prestressed cup springs 43. In thismanner the worm roll 37 can only be swivelled transversely of itslongitudinal axis to the extent to which the bias of the cup springs 43allows. This kind of mounting of the worm roll 37 makes possibleadaptation to the laterally sloping edge of the last L which is ofspecial importance at the inner side of the arch. Transmission of thetorque from the worm shaft 36 to the articulation ball 38 is effectedvia an entrainment pin 44 diametrally passing through the ball 38, bothends of which pin project beyond the ball 38 and protrude into bores 45of the sleeve 40. The size of the bores 45 is such that they permitpivoting of the worm rolls 37 to the extent to which this is required.By th'readedly moving the sleeve 40 inwardly or outwardly on the wormshaft 36 the cup springs are more or less severely prestressed. Thesleeve 40 is locked by a lock nut 46.

As is apparent from FIG. 2 the longitudinal axis of the worm roll 37 isnot positioned perpendicular to the median plane of the last L but isinclinded toward the heel of the last at an angle of about 5' relativeto the perpendicular. It has proved that with this arrangement the wormroll 37 correctly lasts the rim of the upper over the edge of the insolewithout an angular setting relative to the edge of the last beingrequired.

At that face of the bearing housing 31 which faces the last L, there issecured a swivel bearing fork 51 (FIG. 1) wherein a guide means 53 ismounted, by means of a pivot pin 52, so as to be pivotable about an axisperpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1. The guide means 53consist of two parallel rails 54 (FIG. 2) forming a contact and slidesurface for a sliding carriage 55 having an attachment 56 projectingdownwardly between the two rails 54. The sliding carriage 55 further hasa longitudinal groove 57 wherein a flat rod 58 is secured. Finally, acontrol valve 59 is rigidly connected to the guide means 53, the gatespool of which is spring biased toward the left (in FIG. 1) and the freeend 60 of which spool contacts an abutment angle member 61 firmlyconnected to the flat rod 58.

At its free end the flat rod 58 has a downwardly directed arm 62 whichis led laterally past the worm roll 37 and is then bent inwardly underthe worm roll 37 to a roll carrier 63 in such manner that the axis of asensing roll 64 is situated substantially vertically below the axis ofthe worm roll. The sensing roll 64 is upwardly conically bevelled suchthat the point of contact with the upper drawn over the last L issituated as close to the periphery of the worm roll 37 as possible.

To the attachment 56 projecting downwardly between the guide rails 54there is connected the end of a piston rod 65 of a double-acting pistonand cylinder arrangement 66 by means of which the sliding carriage 55can be moved, between the guide rails 54, towards or away from the lastL. A roller 67 of the attachment 56 thereby rolls over the upper surfaceof the housing 31. In the path of movement of the roll 67 there isdisposed a curved element 68 which, when the roll 67 runs onto it,causes the entire sensor mounting 5 to swing about the pivot pin 52 sothat the sensing roll is lowered out of the range of the sleeve 40 andis not damaged during withdrawal.

The connection principle of the control valve 59 with respect to thehydraulic cylinder 23 for moving the sensor and the worm toward the lastL is apparent from FIG. 6. It can there be seen that pressure medium isdirectly introduced by a pump P via the connection 26 of the hydrauliccylinder 23, while the pressure medium to the connection 27 flows viathe control valve 59 and a throttle D. The arrow placed next to thehydraulic cylinder 23 in FIG. 6 indicates the direction toward the lastL. Of course, the circuit shown in FIG. 6 represents only the connectionprinciple and other circuit elements are actually provided which are ofno importance in this context, and that, for the rest, this circuit isonly a portion of the overall circuitry of the lasting machine.

FIGS. 3 and 5 show those elements of the lasting machine according tothe invention which prior to performing the lasting process serve toposition the last with the upper arranged thereon. FIG. 3 again showsthe side view of the base frame 1 of the machine the lateral surfacewhereof, now lying in the plane of the drawing, shows the slit guidanceof the cross head 18. To the upper surface of the base frame 1 there issecured a swivel mounting pedestal 301 in which an angle arm 303 of aswivel arm 304 serving as a last abutment is mounted on a mounting pin302. The angle arm 303 has at its front a protuberance 305 whichcooperates with an adjustable stop screw 306 in the swivel mountingblock 301. Approximately half way along the swivel arm 304 and at theunderside thereof a thrust member 307 is disposed so as to be pivotableabout an axis parallel to the mounting pin 302. The thrust member 307 isof the configuration of a substantial] triangular plate mounted close toits apex by means of a pin 308 between two cheeks 309 and havingcylindrically rounded end of the swivel arm 304 into which the end ofpiston rod 316 of a piston and cylinder arrangement, not shown in greatdetail, engages.

A toe presser generally designated by the reference numeral 320 ismounted so as to be pivotable in the plane of the drawing about a pivotbearing, not shown, in front of the base frame 1. The toe presser 320comprises a body 321 in the form of a cylinder in which a piston 322adapted to be acted upon from either side is vertically displaceable.The piston rod 323, projecting upwardly from the body 321 has at itsupper end a pressure cushion 324 of resilient material which comes intocontact with the toe of the last, from below.

A length abutment strip 325 is rigidly secured to that side of the body321 which faces the base frame 1 and a terminal switch 326 is arrangedat the upper end of the strip 325. The terminal switch 326 is in theform of a microswitch and carries a switch pin 327 in front of which aleaf spring 328 is disposed in a manner apparent from FIG. 3.

. Downwardly of the point where the length abutment strip 325 issecured, a slot 329 is formed in the body 321 into which slot engages apiston rod 330 which is part of a piston and cylinder arrangement 331mounted in the base frame 1.

To the front of the body 321 there is secured a further piston andcylinder arrangement, not shown in detail, the piston rod 501 (FIG. 5)of which acts via a pin 502 on the two ends of a pair of links 503jointly pivotably mounted to the pin 502. The other ends of the links503 are articulated to the respective end of downwardly projecting anglearms 504 forming the extension of two gripping means 505 disposed oneither side of the last L and pivotable in the plane of the drawing. Thegripping means 505 are mounted on the shaft 321 in pivot bearings 506.

Resilient pressure cushions 506' adapted to be pivoted in the plane ofFIG. 5 about a pin 509 and against the action of compression springs 508are secured to the upper ends of the gripping means 505 in pivotbrackets 507. This arrangement and the configuration of the pressurecushions 506' which can be seen in FIG. 5 serves for adaptation to thelateral surface of the last L.

It is apparent from FIGS. 4a, and 4b that guide grooves 401, extendinglongitudinally of the pivot arm 304 (FIG. 3), are formed in eitherlongitudinal side of the arm 304, into which grooves engage sliders 402of a bearer 403 for arch pincers or clamping means, which bearer 403 isdisplaceable on the upper surface of the swivel arm 304. Thedisplacement is effected by a piston and cylinder arrangement 405likewise secured to the upper surface of the swivel arm 304, the pistonrod 404 of the piston and cylinder arrangement engaging the pincerbearer 403. The pincer bearer 403 is itself formed as a cylinder for apiston 406, the upwardly drivable piston rod 407 of which carries across head 408 at its upper end. To the two outer ends of the cross head408 there are hinged pincer shanks 409 pivotable in the plane of thedrawing. The pincer shanks 409 are also designed as cylinders forpistons 410, the piston rods 411 of which are adapted to be drivendownwardly and act with their spherical ends on the movable jaws of archpincers 412. The arch pincers 412 are each'held open by a helical spring413 when the pistons 410 are in their at rest position.

The shafts of the archpincers or clamps have two bores (not shown)extending parallel to the pivot axis of the pincer shafts 409 located inthe vicinity of the points 414 and wherein the terminals of a piston andcylinder arrangement, not shown in detail, are mounted. This piston andcylinder arrangement serves to pivot the shafts of the arch pincersabout the mounting in the cross head 408. The maximum angle of pivotingor opening of the pincer shafts relative to one another can be set bymeans of stop screws 415 contacting the cross head 408.

The manner and sequence of operations of the machine are as follows:

7 In terms of time the sequence of the individual operations of themachine is dependent on a control programme whereby the hydrauliccylinders of the individual tools and devices are pressurised bypressure medium in a predetermined order. Programmed controlarrangements of this kind are adequately known in the appropriatetechnology and, therefore, need not be explained in detail herein.

9 A last L is fitted manually, but suitably alternatively automaticallyby a delivery device, on the mandrel of the last support, such that itstoe points approximately toward the rear. The piston and cylinderarrangement associated with the swivel arm 304 is now actuated so thatthe piston rod 316 moves out and swings the swivel arm 304 into thehorizontal. Both the abutment roll 314 and the pressure element 307 arethereby caused to engage the base of the last and so orient the last Lrelative to the horizontal that the vertical difference between the baseof the last and this horizontal remains as small as possible. Thelasting tool thereby needsto perform only a short vertical movementduring the following lasting procedure.

By virtue of the abutment roll 314 and the pressure element 307 the lastis precisely orientated in the vertical direction and constrained. Nowthe piston rod 501 moves out and pivots the gripper arms 505simultaneously and steadily toward each other so that they grasp thelast L between them and orient it precisely in the longitudinaldirection of the lasting machine. Thus the last is laterally fixed bythe gripper arms 505 since the links 503 develop a bell crank effect andconsequently act very powerfully on the angle arms 504. However, thepressure cushions 506' ensure that damage to the leather of the upper isprecluded.

The final fixing of the last L now results from actuation of the toepresser 320. The latter is moved forwardly from an originally pivotedback position, by the movement of the piston rod 330 out of the pistonand cylinder arrangement 331, until the leaf spring 328 contacts the toeof the last and the switching pin 327 of the terminal switch 326 isdepressed. The signal thus given not only causes the movement of the toepresser to be arrested but it also provides a measure .of the pivotaltravel performed by the toe presser 20. Tis measure which can bederived, for example at the piston rod 330, by known means suitablydetermines, in the succeeding processing stages, the initial position ofthe arch pincer arrangement (FIG. 4a) and of the sensor and the worm(FIGS. 1, 2), since their piston and cylinder arrangement 405 and thecross head 18 in the base frame 1, respectively, are brought into astarting position corresponding to the pivotal travel of the toe presser320. I

After the toe presser 320 has been arrested in the position of pivotingdetermined by the terminal switch 326, the piston rod 323 of the toepresser is driven out so that the pressure cushion 324 disposed at theupper end of the piston rod strongly thrusts from below against the lastL and thus clamps the last against the pressure element 307.

When the above described processes have been performed the positioningof the last L in the lasting machine is terminated. I

It has been explained above that by virtue of the pivoting movement ofthe toe presser 320 the arch pincer arrangement (FIGS. 4a, b) and thesensor and worm mounting (FIGS. 1, 2) have also been driven into thecorrect starting positions. This starting position is determined suchthat the worm is spaced for example mm from the toe of the last (indirection toward the heel of the last) and the arch pincers are offsetyet a further distance toward the heel of the last. This ensures thateven with differing sizes the rim of the upper will, after toe lasting,be gripped at the correct point and that the arch pincers will also gripthe rim of the upper in the arch at a point where this is of greatestimportance.

The arrangement of arch'pincers (FIGS. 4a, b) becomes operative first.To this end the piston 406 which is situated at the top in the startingposition is acted upon by pressure medium from above in the pincerbearing 403 so that the pincer shafts 409 are driven downwardly untilthe fixed jaws of the arch pincers 412 stand on the base of the last andthe movement is thereby arrested. The pincer shafts 409 are then underthe influence of the piston and cylinder arrangement engaging at thepoints 414, in the closed position shown in FIG. 4b. During thislowering movement the arch pincers are held in the open position by thesprings 413 since the cylinders in the pincer shafts 409 remain withoutpressure. Controlled by the downward movement being arrested, the pistonand cylinder arrangement engaging at the points 414 is now actuatedwhereby the pincer shafts 409 are swung apart and thus the fixed jaws ofthe arch pincers 412 are guided along the base of the last. If at thattime the rim of the upper adheres to the insole, which would affect thefollowing arch lasting process very detrimentally as to operation, thenthe rim of the upper is now gripped by the fixed jaws of the articulatedpincers 412, raised and entrained in outward direction. The outerterminal position of the arch pincers 412 is determined by the stopscrews 415 impinging on the cross head 408. Again controlled by theinterruption of the spreading movement of the pincer shafts 409 thepincer jaws of the pincers 412 now close as a result of the pistons 410in the pincer shafts 409 being pressurised. Subsequently the archpincers 412 again move inwardly as a result of appropriate actuation ofthe piston and cylinder arrangement engaging at the points 414. Itshould be emphasized that the arch pincers 412 do not exert a tractionon the upper leather comparable to a lasting process, but they only holdthe rim of the upper fast and erect, so that the upper adheressatisfactorily to the last and insole edge in the arch. Thus firmgripping of the edge of the upper by the worms is ensured in thesubsequent lasting process. During the lasting process the pincers donot move in the longitudinal direction, i.e. the piston rod 404 of thepiston and cylinder arrangement 405 remains at rest. When the abovedescribed processes of movement have been completed the last is readyfor the actual lasting process.

Simultaneously with the renewed approach of the arch pincers 412 thehydraulic motors 35 are switched on so that the worm rolls 37 rotate. Bysupplying pressure medium via the connection 27 to the hydrauliccylinder 23, the sliding carriage 25 is shifted toward the last L. Thestroke is in this case so adjusted that the rolls do not collide in themedian portion of the last. Pressurising the piston and cylinderarrangement by pressure medium causes the piston rod 16 to descend,against the action of the spring 17,.and to deposit the worm screws 37on the base of the last with a specific force, e.g. 50 kp. Thecompression force of the spring 17 is appreciably greater than theactual weight of the displacement guide means 2 and the mountings 4, 5,so as to be able to supply the piston and cylinder arrangement 15 athigh pressure. The installation pressure of e.g. 50 kp can be maintainedconstant by means of a pressure regulating valve in the feed line to thepiston and cylinder arrangement 15 so that the worm roll 37 can on theone hand follow the arch of the last L and on the other hand alwaysexerts an inwardly directed even traction effect on the rim of theupper.

Immediately after the approach movement of the worm rolls 37 toward themedian portion of the last the sliding carriage 55 is also driven out bymeans of the piston rod 65 so that the sensing rolls 64 move to contactthe edge of the last. As a rule conditions will be such that at thismoment the worm rolls 37 will be located too far in the middle of thelast, so that the sensing rolls 64, which are urged against the last bythe cylinder 66, with a pressure of, for example, 1 kp, will be arrestedin a position in which the abutment angle member 61 of the flat bar 58depresses the spool end 60 of the control valve 59, to such an extentthat the control opening of the spool blocks the supply of pressuremedium to the connection 27 of the hydraulic cylinder 23. Thus, only thehydraulic pressure in the connection 26 remains effective so that thesliding carriage 25 and with it the entire worm and sensor mountingincluding the control valve 59 are moved back from the last L. However,under the influence of the piston rod 65 the flat bar 58 continues to beurged toward the last L so that the sensing roll 64 continually adheresto the last with the aforesaid pressure of l kp. The withdrawal of thesliding carriage 25 continues until the abutment angle member 61 hasfreed the end of the spring loaded gate of the control valve 59, to suchan extent that the edge of the control opening of the gate restoressupply of pressure medium to the connection 27 of the hydraulic piston23. In this operating position the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 23is subjected to a medium pressure corresponding to a force of about 300kp exerted by the piston rod.

Now the piston and cylinder arrangement disposed in the base frame 1 ispressurised so that the cross head 18 is advanced in the slit guidewayof the base frame 1 and via the support arms 12 guides the displacementguide 2 and the worm and sensor mounting 3, 5 longitudinally of the.last. During this longitudinal movement the sensing rolls 64 preciselyfollow the contour of the last since they are continually urged againstthe last'at a pressure of 1 kp.-On the other hand, the abutment anglemember 61 continually exerts pressure on the spring loaded spool of thecontrol valve 59 and thus controls the supply of hydraulic medium'to thehydraulic cylinder 23 insuch manner that the worm rolls 37 always pursuethesame course as'the sensing rolls 64. If, for example, in the regionof the arch the flat bar 58 is driven out farther by the piston rod 65,since in this region the sensing rolls 64 approach the middle of thelast in accordance with the cotour of the last, then the abutment anglemember 61 moves away from the spool end 60, so that the control openingof the spool permits increased supply of pressure medium to theconnection 27 and pressure medium is fed into the hydraulic cylinder 23whereby the sliding carriage 25 follows up. This following up movementis instantaneously interrupted when the abutment angle member 61 againdepresses the spool of the control valve 59 to such an extent that theinflow of pressure medium to the connection 27 is interrupted via thecontrol opening of the spool. Without inflow of pressure medium thehydraulic pressure then bears on the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 23which delivers 300 kp holding power.

When the worm rolls' 37 of the arch pincer arrangement (FIGS. 4a, b)have approached to a specific extent, then the pincers 412 release therim of the upper and move upwardly and, under the influence of thepiston and cylinder arrangement 405, to the end of the pivot arm 304.Further constraining of the rim of the upper by the arch pincers 412 isunnecessary for the remainder of the lasting process. This releasingprocess could be triggered by a terminal switch. However, advantageouslythe longitudinal movement of the worm rolls 37, i.e. of the cross head18 in the base frame 1, is sensed, for example by rneansof apotentiometer, and after travelling over a certain distance determinedin relation to the position of the arch pincers the signal mentioned istriggered. This circuitry assists automation of the entire lastingprocedure in as much as in contrast to the positioning of a terminalswitch which would have to be adjusted at the machine itself for variousmodels and sizes, it permits remote controlled adjustment of the processfor releasing the arch pincers.

This'situation is. established until the worm rolls 37 have travelledtheir permissible distance, i.e. when the arch lasting process iscompleted. From this point onwards the above described processes ofmovement occur in reversed sequence, i.e. the sensors move apart, thehydraulic motors 35 are disconnected, the toe presser 320 releases thetoe of the last and pivots back to the starting position, the grippers505 open, the worm rolls 37 return to the starting position and thepivot arm 304 swings upwardly. The-last support may optionally bedesigned so that it can be lowered and pivoted forward so as to enablean automatic withdrawal device to remove the last and to feed it to aheel lasting machine. A fresh last L can now be positioned on the lastsupport, it being immaterial for the next cycle of the operationsdescribed of what size and shape the new last is, since the arrangementand mode of operating described is automatically controlled independence on the shape of the last without supervision by an operatorbeing required or a pattern having to be replaced, as had hitherto beenthe case.

I claim:

1. A lasting machine for pulling the leather of the upper and turningthe rim of the upper over the insole of a shoe, said machine comprising,in combination:

a. means for firmly clamping a last, having a sole surface, so that saidsurface extends in a longitudinal direction;

b. a rotatable worm;

0. means for mounting said worm, so that it extends transversely of thelongitudinal direction of a last held by said clamping means, andadapted to rest on the rim of a shoe upper positioned on said last anddraw the rim inwardly of said last;

d. means for moving said worm longitudinally of said last;

e. a fluid actuated piston and cylinder arrangement connected to movesaid worm transversely of the longitudinal direction of said last,substantially parallel to said sole surface;

f. a sensor guided for movement with said worm and adapted to sense theedge of the last; and g. a control valve for controlling the applicationof fluid under pressure to said piston and cylinder arrangement, saidsensor being operatively associated with said control valve effective tocontrol the pressurisation of the piston and cylinder arrangement andthereby movement of said worm, as the sensor moves along the edge ofsaid last.

2. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said piston andcylinder arrangement is double-acting, effective to move the wormtowards and away from the last, whereby, when the sensor touches theedge of the last, the control valve acts to cut off the supply of fluidto that side of the piston which causes movement towards the last.

3. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising aspring to urge the piston of said piston and cylinder arrangement in onedirection, fluid pressure urging the piston in the other direction.

4. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid supply tothe piston and cylinder arrangement is interruptable by said controlvalve.

5. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control valveis a spool valve, the spoolof which is directly actuated by said sensor.I

6. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising acrosshead guide movable parallel to the longitudinal direction of thelast, said sensor and worm being mounted on said crosshead guide.

7. A lasting machine as claimed in'claim 1, and further comprising asecond fluid actuated piston and cylinder arrangement for actuating saidsensor.

8. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the piston of saidsecond fluid actuated piston and cylinder arrangement is adjustable.

9. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor isdesigned as an angled arm, having a sensing end reaching approximatelyunder said worm.

10. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising asensing roller mounted on said sensor for contact with said last.

1 1. a lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising anadditional fluid actuated piston and cylinder arrangement adapted tomove said worm and sensor substantially perpendicular to said solesurface.

12. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1 l, and further comprising aspring supporting the weight of said worm and sensor and the mountingmeans therefor, so that the force of said worm and sensor on said solesurface is determined solely by said additional fluid actuated pistonand cylinder arrangement.

13. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the force of saidspring considerably exceeds the weight of the worm and sensor andmounting means therefor.

14. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, and further comprisingmeans for tilting the last perpendicular to the sole surface of the lasteffective to adapt the worm to the edge of the last.

15. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 14, and further comprising anarticulation ball secured to one end of the worm, a land formed on saidball perpendicular to the worm axis, and prestressed compression springsacting on said land, to constrain tilting of said worm.

1. A lasting machine for pulling the leather of the upper and turningthe rim of the upper over the insole of a shoe, said machine comprising,in combination: a. means for firmly clamping a last, having a solesurface, so that said surface extends in a longitudinal direction; b. arotatable worm; c. means for mounting said worm, so that it extendstransversely of the longitudinal direction of a last held by saidclamping means, and adapted to rest on the rim of a shoe upperpositioned on said last and draw the rim inwardly of said last; d. meansfor moving said worm longitudinally of said last; e. a fluid actuatedpiston and cylinder arrangement connected to move said worm transverselyof the longitudinal direction of said last, substantially parallel tosaid sole surface; f. a sensor guided for movement with said worm andadapted to sense the edge of the last; and g. a control valve forcontrolling the application of fluid under pressure to said piston andcylinder arrangement, said sensor being operatively associated with saidcontrol valve effective to control the pressurisation of the piston andcylinder arrangement and thereby movement of said worm, as the sensormoves along the edge of said last.
 2. A lasting machine as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said piston and cylinder arrangement is double-acting,effective to move the worm towards and away from the last, whereby, whenthe sensor touches the edge of the last, the control valve acts to cutoff the supply of fluid to that side of the piston which causes movementtowards the last.
 3. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1, andfurther comprising a spring to urge the piston of said piston andcylinder arrangement in one direction, fluid pressure urging the pistonin the other direction.
 4. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 1,wherein the fluid supply to the piston and cylinder arrangement isinterruptable by said control valve.
 5. A lasting machine as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said control valve is a spool valve, the spool of whichis directly actuated by said sensor.
 6. A lasting machine as claimed inclaim 1, and further comprising a crosshead guide movable parallel tothe longitudinal direction of the last, said sensor and worm beingmounted on said crosshead guide.
 7. A lasting machine as claimed inclaim 1, and further comprising a second fluid actuated piston andcylinder arrangement for actuating said sensor.
 8. A lasting machine asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the piston of said second fluid actuatedpiston and cylinder arrangement is adjustable.
 9. A lasting machine asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor is designed as an angled arm,having a sensing end reaching approximately under said worm.
 10. Alasting machine as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a sensingroller mounted on said sensor for contact with said last.
 11. a lastingmachine as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising an additionalfluid actuated piston and cylinder arrangement adapted to move said wormand sensor substantially perpendicular to said sole surface.
 12. Alasting machine as claimed in claim 11, and further comprising a springsupporting the weight of said worm and sensor and the mounting meanstherefor, so that the force of said worm and sensor on said sole surfaceis determined solely by said additional fluid actuated piston andcylinder arrangement.
 13. A lasting machine as claimed in claim 12,wherein the fOrce of said spring considerably exceeds the weight of theworm and sensor and mounting means therefor.
 14. A lasting machine asclaimed in claim 1, and further comprising means for tilting the lastperpendicular to the sole surface of the last effective to adapt theworm to the edge of the last.
 15. A lasting machine as claimed in claim14, and further comprising an articulation ball secured to one end ofthe worm, a land formed on said ball perpendicular to the worm axis, andprestressed compression springs acting on said land, to constraintilting of said worm.